Swans at Westleton, Gulls at Covehithe

Another disappointing weekend weather wise with high winds gain, on Saturday 19th February I was keen to revisit the wild swans at Lymballs Lane especially as they had been reported close to the road. By the time I got there, having first checked Lake Lothing (seeing very little) The Swans had moved back and the Whoopers were so distant and ina dip, I could only see 5 birds. The Bewick's Swans were also distant but I could see all 8 birds. Back at Covehithe I scanned the field behind the Church and saw both a wp adult Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow- legged Gull with greyer back and yellow legs, obviously. Nice to see the Fergusons too.

A date with the Red- breasted Goose at Cley

On Monday 14th February, rather fortuitously I had the afternoon off (instead of Wednesday) due to a Webinar I have to attend on that day. So I collected John from Hemsby (our first birding trip together since the pandemic started), we had talked about going up for the RBG but the weather had dissuaded both of us until now. So we were both masked up in the car and driving along the A149 towards Cley, the weather had held off, but a pull in on the east side of the road with 3 birders cars and a field beyond with around 40 Brent Geese in the middle of the field looked promising and it was! No sooner had we leapt out than the excellent Red- breasted Goose was seen bang in the middle of the flock, moving right, I managed a few pictures before it poured with rain and we had to retreat to the dry sanctuary of the car. It has been many years since I saw my last wild RBG, this wonderful visitor from Siberia & my 4th after seeing 2 previously in Norfolk and 1 in suffolk at Falkenham. Within 20 minutes, the rain had relented and we got out and the flock was now sadly further away at the back of the field until, a helicopter was heard, the Geese became alert and the Red- breasted Goose which had been at the right of the flock was now in the middle again. At one point it was on the left, it was often at the back of the flock and often completely obscured. They settled down again, but 20 minutes later the flock suddenly flew up and flew over the road and settled in the field the other side. By now the light was fading (it was 4pm).

Pair of Smew at Minsmere

On Sunday 13th February, I drove down to Minsmere and saw the fine pair of Smew (male and female, first male for a few years) by the Mound pools for all of 5 minutes before they flew onto the West scrape (south- eastern corner). A look from North hide failed to reveal them. Several 5 Pintails and 30 Black- tailed Godwits seen distantly, pity I didn't stay as I missed out on a Jack Snipe here later on.

A dozen Purple Sands

On Saturday 12th February, walking to the north of Ness Point scanning the seweed encrusted ledge just below the seawall, 30 metres north of Ness Point up to 12 Purple Sandpipers seen feeding including 3 who leapt up and feeding along the verticle wall too. My highest tally of this species this winter so far! Still no Rock Pipit or Med Gull though.

Monkeying around at Aldringham Walks!

On Sunday 6th February late morning, I finally surfaced after I had experienced disturbed sleep over the 3 nights Tues/Wed & Thurs of the previous week, the night before last on Thursday night a storm had rattled the velox windows where I had been staying in Wales, with the rain beating down on them like a drummer beating drum skins all night (fine for a concert but not when you trying to get to sleep!), so I didn't get a wink of sleep! Fully laden up with coffee the next morning, I was able to drive back safely the whole 343 miles back to Lowestoft from Llanddarog in South Wales. So back to Sunday 6th February, news broke of a male Ring-necked Duck on Aldringham Reservoir near Sizewell. It was yet another reservoir with no general access, something I seem to be specialising in visiting at the moment!) I thought it was a new bird for me in Suffolk (forgetting I had alredy seen a female at Bawdsey, 15 April 2001), I had missed a male at Benacre Broad in October 1984. So having checked with Jane F, who I know had walked this area, thanks to her help and directions, I then knew exactly where to go. So, an an hour later, I drew up by the entrance to Sizewell Hall and walked west along a path and then a vehicular bridleway for approx. 1/2 mile, I then saw a life saving belt which was a good sign and a large Sycamore with a human up it scoping something, so it was definitely the tree! He introduced himself as Mike C, who I'd met before and knew of. Mike said the bird was in the far north- west corner of the Broad. Problem was I couldn't get a safe purchase up the tree let alone balancing a scope too. It was very precarious purchase! Another problem was the sun was shining directly towards us, so we had to ait until the sun was completely clouded over to view. Mike C said there was no other way of viewing the reservoir but there was one another tree I could try half way around the reservoir (clockwise) if the broken fence hadn't been mended, unfortunately it was. So we went back to the orignal lone Sycamore tree and after Mike had left I went up the tree again hanging onto one branch and pushing the scope against a branch, I finally had a secure purchase with a hold of the tree with one arm and the other used to push a steady enough scope against a trunk so I could scan the far north-west corner of the reservoir. Lots of Tufted Duck c30 seen, c10 Pochard and then I saw it the fine male Ring- necked Duck swimming right and soon out of sight, with identifying features including a bubble on the head, grey sides to the body, bordered by a white spur separating the grey sides from the black breast. The whole climbing up a tree I found personally was quite precarious and dangerous, I don't like heights either & especially with the increasing wind and now rain lashing down so that was it for me, I had to forgo the Scaup, I couldn't see it, so I climbed carefully & safely down and walked off. This was easily the most difficult viewing conditions I have ever witnessed in viewing a bird and quite dangerous too. Not recommended. On the wayback, I drove back via Lymballs Lane, Westleton and saw the 8 Whooper Swans again, in the same field but slightly further back this time.

Return to Cymisfael steam

On Thursday 3rd February, a Walk along the Cymisfael stream was initially quiet, until a fantastic Dipper flew past by Pen-y-banc bridge, it banked up briefly and flew left along the stream. A rattling Mistle Thrush flew over the overhead trees and left too. By Whitehall bridge area, it was apparent that several, up to 5, small flocks of c30 Redwings were about, as was a circling Red Kite over the fields in the skies to the left. A lot of hedges and some trees had been taken out, of the fields to the left of the bridges. Walking back, the Dipper was seen by Pen-y-banc bridge again briefly and a Grey Wagtail seen along the northern 'path' of the stream and 2 pairs of Grey Wagtails seen further along too. More Redwings seen including 1 Redwing perched near the top of a hedge. A Goldcrest heard and then seen briefly too. By the other western bridge, a Red Kite seen circling over the tall trees, too.

Specifically Pacific!

On Wednesday 2nd February, after I had cancelled my planned visit to Wales just before Christmas, a Pacific Diver had been spotted at Eglwys Nunydd reservoir, Port Talbot, Glamorgan in an area of no general access. Viewing areas were restricted from various points near the Grand Sultan restaurant, Water Road, Port Talbot or from a Bridge, the other side of the M4 motorway, which wasn't that appealing. Access was generally discouraged but the area is extensively used by local fishermen and a sailing club, so when details of where to actually visit became available from friends based at Ipswich and point blank views almost guaranteed, it became difficult to resist. With family commitments, I decided to give it a try. Having stopped off and parked just off the motorway by the start of an entrance road to a Crematorium, I walked past the gas works and accessed through the woods. Access was only available via the north east end and I estimated it was an exhausting 5 mile walk (there and back) to reach the extreme south-east end of the reservoir. Mainly due to having to carry 3 cameras, zoom lenses, bins, scope and trpod! Half way along the resrvoir walk was the Sailing Club was out in full force and I wondered if that might scare of the bird but the north east end was still 3/4 mile away and was left undisturbed. As I walked up I saw Tufted Duck and around 8 Goldeneye (3 males and 5 females) and then I saw the fantastic immature Pacific Diver! Really pleased to see it, especially after missing a bird at Llys-y- Fran reservoir, Pembrokeshire on a previous visit a few winters ago. As I walked around the area bordered by a grassy area and sheep, I passed the marshy SE corner of the reservoir. Just past a large bush the reservoir ledge wall started, it was a little precarious as the ledge was only 2 feet wide and leading to a steep slope to the waters edge of the reservoir. I immediately spotted the fantastic Diver only about 2 feet away. Typically, like a Black- throat, but I estimated it to be slightly smaller, no rear white flank patch and browner (chocolate brown) on head and sides of the neck side bordering some black giving a distinct suble difference. The white scaling on the back proving it was an immature bird. It was diving for several minutes then resurfacing again 20 feet away and I was able to move when it had dived in a position where I could carefully look back and try and get some shots. Initially, it took a Stickleback and juggled in its bill (again slightly smaller tahn a Black- throat), before gratefully gulping down its prey. Amongst a raft of slightly most distant waterfowl, included around c25 Great- crested Grebe, a nice group of around 25 Pochards, c40 Tufted Ducks also included a fine Slavonian Grebe that did once swim a little closer for a record shot, before swimming away again at a rapid pace. I was able to stoop down below the parapet and photo the diver as it swam around 20 foot (definitely "double Ferguson" views!) from the edge before swimming east and fishing just past a group of reeds. Bird of the year for me, so far!

Weekend update

On Saturday 29th January, a look from Asda car park revealed an immature Shag on the river near the Grain silo. On Sunday 30th January, at Ness Point, a Purple Sandpiper flew south and another Purple Sandpiper seen on the ledge unmderneath the sea wall opposite Bird's Eye factory viewed by scope from the northern end of Ness Point.